If you are a coffee addict like me, you’ve probably once in a while stumbled across the term ‘Decaf Coffee’ and perhaps even tried it.
“Decaf or ‘decaffeinated coffee’ is a type of coffee made from coffee beans with 97% of the caffeine removed.”
With millions of people drinking coffee every day and hardly 2-4% of them drink decaf, the big question…
Is Decaf Coffee Good For You?
While a lot matters on how sensitive you are to caffeine, decaf coffee whether good or bad for your health depends on how it is decaffeinated.
The usual way of removing caffeine from beans is by using water and carbon dioxide. Organic solvents are also used.
Beans are thoroughly washed in the solvent until all (approx. 97%) of the caffeine has been extracted and finally the solvent is removed.
After this, the process of roasting and grounding starts.
According to Health Line, “The nutritional value of decaf coffee should be almost identical to regular coffee, apart from the caffeine content.”
Still, there is a change of taste and smell.
Even the color of coffee changes.
So, let us see some benefits and side-effects of decaffeinated coffee.
The most common side effects of coffee are on nutrient interactions in the body and non-heme iron absorption. When you consume a cup of coffee, the risk of hip fractures increases. The reason is, coffee decreases calcium absorption in bones by four to six milligrams for each cup. Similarly, it also hinders the body’s ability to absorb iron. Though a major caffeine content is extracted during the decaffeination process, decaf coffee is not completely caffeine free. On average, 3 mg of caffeine is present per cup of coffee. To be precise, in a 180 ml cup of decaf coffee, there is 0-7 mg of caffeine. Should You Choose Decaf Over Regular? Once again, it all comes down to tolerance for caffeine. I don’t go to sleep until I’ve had at least 4 cups of coffee a day. However, for others, one cup may be excessive and can exhaust their central nervous system. If you are sensitive to caffeine, decaf coffee is the best option for you. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also advised to limit their caffeine intake. Decaf is a great option for them. Finally, if you have a medical condition that restricts you from not exceeding a certain amount of caffeine per day, you should prefer decaf over regular coffee. Coffee being one of the most popular beverages in the world has both benefits and side-effects. The caffeine content present in coffee is what causes problems for some individuals. If you are sensitive to caffeine, decaf is a great way to enjoy coffee without any side-effects. Do you think a friend of yours is sensitive to caffeine? Share this article and let them know about decaf coffee.
How Much Is Caffeine Content In Decaf Coffee?
Conclusion